TODAY: Rallies Across PA to Demand UPMC and Penn State Health Continue Saving Trans Youth Lives

Public Outcry Persists as UPMC and Penn State Health Continue Denial of Life-Saving Gender Affirming Medical Care to New and Some Existing Patients Under 19 Years Old

HERSHEY, Pa. Two weeks ago Penn State Health followed UPMC in denying full gender affirming medical healthcare for new and some existing patients under 19 years old. This care has been vital to the many young people whose lives depend on it. This evening, rallies calling on UPMC and Penn State Health to continue to save the lives of trans youth will take place in Pittsburgh, State College, and Hershey. Last month, rallies supporting healthcare for trans youth took place in front of UPMC locations in Pittsburgh, Erie, Altoona, Lancaster, and Lewisburg. Following, over 80 public officials including 58 state lawmakers and House Speaker Joanna McClinton, and a majority of Pittsburgh City Council and the Pittsburgh Mayor) and 40 organizations signed a letter to UPMC in support of these demands. UPMC has not responded to these requests.

Demand UPMC and Penn State Health Continue Saving Trans Youth Lives Rallies Across PA
Friday, May 9, 2025 from 6-7pm
Pittsburgh 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
State College Allen Street Gates (Allen Street and West College Avenue), State College, PA 16801
Hershey Entrance to Penn State Health Hershey Campus (US 322 and University Drive), Hershey, PA 17033

These coordinated statewide events will raise critical visibility of public rejection to UPMC's and Penn State Health's decision of pre-compliance with the illegal Executive Order issued on January 28, 2025, and demand they reverse their decision under the current circumstances. UPMC and Penn State Health must continue providing full gender affirming care until there would be an actual law or regulation requiring them to end their services, or a court order that would end federal funding to these healthcare systems should they provide this care. Providing behavioral healthcare alone is not enough to save the lives of trans children and youth. These rallies will demonstrate needed public support for young trans Pennsylvanians.

The events are titled: Demand UPMC and Penn State Health Continue Saving Trans Youth Lives. Gender affirming care for many youth is medically necessary and backed by all major medical organizations in the United States. Young people will be harmed without access to these interventions, which includes suffering from physical changes that are not easily reversible. If some trans young people are prevented from accessing basic healthcare, it can lead to negative outcomes including depleted mental health, self harm, and death. The gatherings invite all those who support transgender young people to rise up in opposition to these cruel acts by UPMC and Penn State Health decisions of anticipatory compliance. In fact, a federal court has currently blocked implementation of the Executive Order nationwide. While several memos from the federal government have been issued to pressure healthcare providers to end this care, none of them are requirements being enforced. Anticipatory compliance now which may never become law is cowering to threats with a direct impact of harming vulnerable patients.

The rallies are being held to demand that UPMC and Penn State Health:

1. Reinstate gender affirming care for new and existing patients given the current circumstances
2. Should a law or regulation specifically mandate UPMC or Penn State Health cease direct gender affirming medical care for young trans people, or a final court ruling be issued that would cut off substantial funding should gender affirming healthcare be provided, UPMC and Penn State Health must enthusiastically support in all ways possible alternative providers to ensure trans youth receive the medically-necessary healthcare they need to survive
3. Establish an advisory committee for their administration on gender affirming care, comprised of transgender youth and community leaders, and healthcare professionals
4. Not retaliate against our communities and continue funding for local programs and LGBTQ+ healthcare

These rallies are mobilized by the following organizations, with support from the Pennsylvania Youth Congress and the ACLU of Pennsylvania: For Hershey the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project; State College Centre LGBT+, and; Pittsburgh TransYOUniting.

Following recent public outcry against Corewell Health for taking similar action, the largest healthcare system in Michigan reversed its decision. In April, Planned Parenthood Arizona as well ended full gender affirming healthcare for those under 19 years old, but then reversed after public pressure.

This week, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted 32-18 to advance SB 9 an anti-women's sports, anti-trans youth bill, and the US Supreme Court has allowed the ban on trans individuals serving in the military to be put into effect in the US v. Shilling case.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress advances freedom and justice for young LGBTQ Pennsylvanians by advocating for responsible public policy. Established in 2011, PYC represents citizens working toward safer schools and thriving communities across the commonwealth. PYC is PA's only Pennsylvania-based statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization headquartered in Harrisburg.

payouthcongress.org